Michael Finucane
Ceist:47 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has given consideration to the reconstitution of hospital boards in order to make them more democratic and accountable. [28760/00]
Written Answers. - Hospital Boards.
The Deputy will be aware that existing accountability legislation provides for varying elements of accountability for health board hospitals, joint board hospitals and voluntary hospitals all of whom receive capital and revenue funding from the Exchequer through my Department's vote. In acknowledging the need to improve and enhance existing good practices in this regard, my Department facilitated a governance initiative workshop in 1998 followed by a major conference organised by the Office for Health Management in June 1999.
The chief executive officers of the health boards, chairperson and secretary managers of all the major voluntary paediatric and joint board hospitals were represented at the conference which produced a policy discussion document Governance and Hospital Boards. The document has been circulated to all the relevant agencies and provides a further impetus to the development of thinking on and action on a range of good governance issues. I am satisfied that the outcomes of this process will lead to improved governance arrangements for members of hospital boards, hospital executives and management and their staff in determining their respective functions and chains of accountability.